2004 Dodge RAM 1500 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,366
- 38 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 348 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 114 reported crashes · 153 injuries · 1 death · 42 fires
What owners report fails — 2004 Dodge RAM 1500
- AIR BAGS 348
- POWER TRAIN 127
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 74
- ENGINE 74
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 57
3 recalls on record for the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500
- NHTSA 16V352000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, a
- NHTSA 14V770000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with met
- NHTSA 15V313000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2004 Dodge RAM 1500
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 reliable?
NHTSA has 1,366 consumer complaints on record for the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (348 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Dodge RAM 1500?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (348), power train (127), electrical system (74), engine (74). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2004 Dodge RAM 1500?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.